literalism: Meaning and Definition of

lit•er•al•ism

Pronunciation: (lit'ur-u-liz"um), [key]
— n.
  1. adherence to the exact letter or the literal sense, as in translation or interpretation: to interpret the law with uncompromising literalism.
  2. a peculiarity of expression resulting from this: The work is studded with these obtuse literalisms.
  3. exact representation or portrayal, without idealization, as in art or literature: a literalism more appropriate to journalism than to the novel.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: